Wednesday, July 28, 2010

This is part two of a six part season preview of the Villanova football team, each week there will be a new post focusing on a different position group.

Offensive Line- Any Discussion of the Villanova offensive line must begin with senior Ben Ijalana. Since the day he stepped on campus as a freshman, "Big Ben" (I hate using that nickname because he's not a pig) has been a fixture at the Left Tackle position, protecting Chris Whitney's (and Antwon Young's) blindside. Even now, over a month before the season starts, accolades are being poured on him from All-American nods, award nominations and NFL Draft speculation. All of this recognition underscores his importance to his team. Along with all the on-field stuff, Ijalana is an intelligent, friendly guy who seems to have his shit together (always a good thing.)

Playing Robin To Ijalana's Batman is senior All-American Left Guard Brant Clouser. Clouser is your prototypical fire hydrant shaped power blocker and he along with Ijalana have started every game since they arrived on campus as true freshmen and this season they will have the chance to break a Villanova record for starts in a career and consecutive starts.

The likely starter at Center will be sophomore Dan Shirey. Shirey spent most of last season playing Right Guard, but he should be the starter at the pivot to open the season as he saw significant action at Center when last year's starter Brian Brannigan was injured. Judging by his build, Shirey seems a better fit at center than guard anyway because he's got somewhat of a leaner build, but he is still quite capable as a Guard.

Right Guard is the only position on the offensive line that has any sort of question marks as the likely starter, Hofstra transfer Jordy Paulemon will need time to gel with the rest of the guys in the unit. Everything that I've heard about Paulemon suggests that he should have absolutely no problem adjusting as he is plenty talented.

Right Tackle has some questions, but the only questions revolve around which talented player starts and which has to sit. Chidozie Ekweozor likely has the upper hand because he was the opening day starter last year and didn't do anything to lose the job. The question involving Chidozie is whether he'll be fully healthy for camp since he shredded up his knee at the end of last season. If Chidozie can't start, then the job will be handed to redshirt freshman Josh Bucci who Andy Talley has spoken quite highly of.

This is a very strong group, perhaps one of the strongest in the history of the program. I see no reason why this year's offensive line won't power this team to a record setting season.

Monday, July 26, 2010

This is part one of a six part season preview of the Villanova football team, each week there will be a new post focusing on a different position group.

Quarterback- It is no secret that Villanova had a dangerous offense last year, especially when running the football. The basis of the Villanova offense is The Zone-Read Option which puts the onus on the quarterback to make the decision as to hand the ball off to a running back or keep it himself. Villanova's top rusher from last season returns in incoming Senior Quarterback Chris Whitney. Last season, Whitney finished the 2009 season with 983 Rushing Yards, a school record for a quarterback. Chris Whitney is a break from the classic Andy Talley quarterback in that he is as much of a threat to run the football as he is to throw it. While he is not the most gifted passer, Whitney makes up for it with his ability to create time in the pocket and throw accurately on the move while also picking up tough yardage with his legs when a play breaks down. His style of play works for him, as he is 25-5 as a starter headed into this season with his only losses coming to top 15 teams. Chris Whitney will have the advantage of having started in parts of four seasons, so he knows the offense like the back of his hand. I expect big things from Chris Whitney this season. If Whitney gets hurt, the team is in trouble since his backups are either walk-ons or true freshmen, so needless to say, I'll be doing some voodoo in hopes that C-Dub stays healthy because this year, Antwon Young is not available to capably fill in.

As you may have heard by now, Drexel basketball players Jamie Harris and Kevin Phillip are fucking retards. They decided that it would be a good idea to storm into a female student's apartment (with guns in tow) and try to steal a ton of cash (I'd like to know what made them think that college students have money.) Needless to say, they got no money and only made away with an iPhone. As AJ Price would surely tell you, stealing is not worth it unless you come away with a laptop or better. Come on guys, that must have been one awesome phone if you felt it was worth mortgaging your future on.

Monday, July 12, 2010

As of last week, ESPN was returning to my good graces for their tremendous coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (trademark.) For a while I was willing to forget the fact that Joe Morgan and John Kruk were still in their employ, but the bullshit charade revolving LeBron James completely killed any good momentum they gained in my relatively forgiving heart. ESPN did just about everything wrong, from fanning LeBron's massive ego to undermining their own program by reporting earlier in the day that he was going to join The Heat. Here is the NBA, a league that is a step below NASCAR in my interest level garnering this ridiculous amount of attention to the point where ESPN was willing to analyze James' bowel movements to see if they would provide clues as to where he'd end up.

Unfortunately for sports fans, ESPN operates like Microsoft did in it's heyday, buying up as many competitors as it can so they can ultimately rule the sports tabloid world. It would be nice if Rupert Murdoch's foray into the sports broadcasting world didn't come so late, but it did and until then we're stuck with the four letter word.

Friday, July 9, 2010

As any reader of this blog would know, I'm a big supporter of the football team and I try to provide the most coverage I can for the team. A topic that seems to come up every few weeks in the media in some way (especially during recent months with the conference shakeups) is Villanova's interest in moving up to the Big East. A columnist from a West Virginia newspaper believes that Villanova would bring balance to the Big East in football. Villanova is undoubtedly the most attractive candidate to upgrade from the pool of schools currently in the Big East without BCS football programs (Georgetown, St. John's, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, and DePaul.) I agree with this assessment because adding a Memphis or ECU would make the Big East way too geographically stretched and would most likely necessitate inviting those schools for all other sports. If the Big East can't get Notre Dame, don't be surprised if Villanova takes a serious look into this (if only to save the basketball team.)

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Filed in the "did my ears deceive me?" category is recent news that former Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez tried to steal a handbag (purse) from a mall in New Jersey. I take back everything negative that i have ever said about you Mr. Gonzalez and I would just like to congratulate you on your awesomeness.

I used to think that movies aren't supposed to make men cry, but I was wrong. I have pinpointed the exact spot in a film that can make anyone with a substantial connection to either baseball or their father cry like a woman in labor. The film is Phil Alden Robinson's magnum opus Field of Dreams. In Field of Dreams, everyman corn farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) embarks on a strange odyssey in which he cuts down his corn to build a baseball field so that Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) can play baseball after being banned from the game along with his teammates by Judge Kenesaw Landis due to the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. Ray cuts down his corn and nearly bankrupts himself because only he and a few others (his wife, daughter and James Earl Jones) can see the ballplayers playing on what should be his cornfield. Trimming the fat, Ray comes to realize that the true purpose of building the field is not to let Shoeless Joe play again, but to reconnect with his father who he loathes a great deal for "growing old." The final scene is of Ray and his father playing catch on the "field of dreams" which is something that makes me want to suck my thumb and start to bawl like a little bitch

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Villanova Wide Receiver Matt Szczur has signed a professional baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs after being drafted by them in the 5th round last month. Villanova fans should be happy to know that Szczur will be able to finish his football career on the Main Line this coming fall. Truly good news for a team that has to be the odds on favorite to repeat as national champions. Thank Szczur!